So, in essence, what we are seeing in todays time isn't really like the sectionalism there would have been in 1860? Is this not only because of the 10th Amendment but because the states have a bigger 'debt' to the Federal Government because of funding? I never thought I'd say it in my life but I'm a seeing what the South must have seen and understand why they were determined to get out. At least the emotional part of it anyway.
It's amazing there still are state governments after all these years but I'd think the Feds have done what they could to make sure they don't fall out of line again. Had the Unpleasant Situation of 1861-65 not happened, do you think there would have been some clause to hold all of the states or the 10th Amendment would have come anyway? I'm not even sure where to find the answer to this. Do different states have different wording or interpretation of their Sovereignty as an individual entity within the union? Where does one find this information? I know I'm asking a lot of pretty dumb stuff I probably should know, but in truth, people I've spoken to in the last week or so don't know this either. We all are wondering just where states rights or sovereignty start and end.
I'm sorry Jim if this doesn't look CW related, but in many ways it is. Just with a modern twist. The first shot was fired (again) in Pensacola today. It's gonna be interesting to watch this battle play out. I believe the playing field of today was defined by what happened then.

We've seen what happens when one state defies the Feds as Alabama did on segregation. Military under Federal control moved in over night. If the Southern states tried to play out their hand in the courts during the early stages of the CW, would it have led to full blown war anyway? I suspect Martial Law would have been in place early on. But, would that have happened to a Northern state who maybe did not support slavery but also did not support all out war? In the 1860's it was almost impossible to stay neutral. Could that be said today? Can we look back at what this Nations Founders set into motion and see it is indeed still that way?

Pam